SCOTTISH Power is refusing to foot the £2.5million cost of providing enough electricity to expand Kew Business Park.

SCOTTISH Power is refusing to foot the £2.5million cost of providing enough electricity to expand Kew Business Park.

The utility giant is insisting that costs will have to be met either by local taxpayers in Sefton, or by business park developers.

The money is needed for new substations to supply power to businesses to be built in the complex.

But it is thought that the firms in the new development would only use 5 per cent of the energy produced, and profits would then go back to Scottish Power.

Developers at the park have now asked Southport’s MP John Pugh to intervene after four years of disagreement.

Dr Pugh said: “All we are asking for is acknowledgement of the profits Scottish Power stands to make from the supply of electricity to the Kew development, and a recognition of this in their talks with developers about who should foot the bill for the expansion of their business.

“It is a sorry state of affairs when the economic development of Southport can rest on the ‘whim’ of a privately-owned utility.

“The fact that Scottish Power won’t even guarantee that these improvements will be conducted in a timely way or even on budget - even when it’s the council and the developers being asked to foot the bill - is even more disturbing.”

A spokesman from Scottish Power said that the company is still awaiting a formal application for the development.

He said that the costs for the primary substation had been requested but did not know how much electrical capacity would be required until the application was submitted and studies on the network were undertaken.

Scottish Power said it had advised that quotes should be sought from other network providers for the work.

Dr Pugh has written to Scottish Power as well as OFGEM and the Minister of State for Energy and is confident a solution can be reached.

The development of the business park could see another 500 jobs created as well as new, affordable houses.

Kew councillor Maureen Fearn said: “We do need the electricity and I hope all will be resolved quickly.

“The business park provides a lot of jobs and we want to encourage more businesses through the site.”

Businesses already settled in the park think the disagreement with Scottish Power could put off other businesses thinking about setting up in our town.

Richard Barnett, head of Barnett’s Solicitors, said: “It's particularly important that a compromise is reached – it's essential for the town.

“It's been really exciting to see how the business park has developed since we came five years ago.

“The development of the business park is expected to create some 500 more jobs, so it's important things are resolved.”

John Pugh said he is confident a compromise can be reached and, because of the importance of the development to Southport, is prepared to take things further if need be.